Railway-car truck



June' 14, 1927. ,632,17

C. L. CHARLES RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed Jan. 31. 1925 NVENTOR Patente dJune 14, 1927.

UNITED S TATE S PATENT' OFFICE,

CARL L. CHARLES, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, Bir MESNEASSIGNMENTS, :ro HERBERT M. BBUNE, CHARLES n SCABLETT, AND JANON FISHER,TRUSTEES,

ALL OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

n BAILWAY-CAR TRUCK;

Application filed January My invention relates to railway cartrucks.

The object ot' my invention is to 'produee a truck having side bearings,additional to those ot the usual type, which are so positioned relativethercto as to damp the oscillation of theccar body, thereby preventingexcessive overloading of the journals on one sideiof the truck andreducing-vthe hazards ot operation. i i

One' example of my improved truck s shown in the accompanying drawingtor purposes ot illustration, the truck, exclusive ot the additionalside bearings, being the same `as that illustrateifl and described in U.`S.-Lette1's lPatenty No. 15684358, dated Jan. 5, 1926. The sidebearings, which form the new element relative to said patent, are,

compensating in their nature and function: to retard the oscillation otthe ear body', thereby tending .to maintain said body more nearly in'its normal position. Therefore, while possessing great advantages whenuti lized in 'connection with any type of body,

they are particularly useful tor those hav-` ing a .high center ofgravity, such as box, hopper, passenger cars andthelike.

lt highly desirable in railway car trucks to equalize the journal loadsin' order to achieve a sn'ooth operation and to reduce overloading',`with its resulting decrease in tlwlongevity of the truck. Trueks as nowconstructed, however,` do not satisfactorily control the oscillation ofthe car body, which is the' principal cause of such overloading, and'hcnce :the forces set up thereby result in a heavy pressure on thejournals on one side o't' the truck.` Inorder to solve this problem, Ihave devised the truck illustrated and described in' this application,but while said truck and its additional side bearings possess certainadvantages by `'reason of its Construction, noted hereina'ter, I do notdesire to be limited to the particular combi nation shown, for the gistof ny invention lies( in the production ofa truck whether four or sixwheels, flexibleor rigid having bearingsadditional to the usual kind andadapted to function inthe manner described above and hereinafter. r

My improved truck comprises six wheels mounted upon .three axles and`each axle is revolubly mountedin a member` The pilot and trailer membersareeonnected to the central member by what issubstantially a 31, 1925.Serial No. 6,070.

'ball and socket joint so that each member,

may move vertcally and transversely horizontally without producing acorresponding movement of either or both of the othe members. i r

Means' are also provided for producing a horizontal co-ordinating actionwheels and journals so that the wheels will conform to the contour ofthe rails whatever t may be, and so that the angularpm sition of thecentral axlc will be coordinate'd to the position of either or both thepilot and trailer xlcs.

The horizontal` coordinating action involved in my improved truck isclearly illustrated andexplained and the method and means by which saidaction is eitcctuated is set forth in U. 5. Patent No. 1341576, is`

sued 'June 1st,- 1920.

In combination with the'horizontal O- ordinating action'justcreferrcdto, my improved truck involves equalized vertical ac tions of the.several members of the truck andthe method of accomplishing the horizontalcoordinating action of truck members in eombination withan-equalized vertical action thereof is set forth'in U. S. LettersPatent No. 1341577, issued June lst, 1920.' In the 'last-named LettersPatent there is also set forth one means foretecting the horizontalcoordinating action of the several members in combination with anequal-` ized vertical action thereot. A further means of eifecting thehorizontal Coordinating action of the several member-sin combinationwith an equalized vertical action thereo't is illustrated and describedin Patent No( 1568958 ,above noted.

In the drawings z Figure "1 is a p View: Of a six wheel truck'constructed according to my 'invent1on, the carbody being omitted forthe sake o't clearness. i

Figure 2 is a view looking in the direction Figure 5-is a perspectiveview`of a portion of( mytruck showing' the relation beof* tue p tweenthe side bearings on one side thereof.

In the drawings represents the wheels and 16, 17 and 18 represent,respectively the pilot, central and trailer axles. The journals of theaXles are monnted in any approved torm of axle box such as 19 and thewheels and axles are ot American Railway Association Standards.

Each pilot and trailer bolster consists oi? a pair ot' pedestals such as20, each pedestal being provided with a recess having jaws 21 tor thereception oi" the axle box 19 which slides treely therein and springs 22are placed between each axle box and the top of the correspondingrecess. The pedestals -20 of each end meniher are joined to gether by atreme 23 and said tra ne provided with :in extension 24 termmating 111the boss 25 having a :emispherical lower surface.

The f 'ame 23 is provided with two beses 26-26 tor a purpose hereinatterexplained and with cars 27--27 tor the support of brake parts. The brakeparts i'orming no part oi" my present invention are .not illustrated ordescribed. Each trame 23 is further provided with a pair ot rockerbearines 28-28.

The central bolster consists of a pair of pedestals such as 29-29, eachpedestal being provided with a recess having jaws 30 tor the receptionot the axle box 19 which has tree vertical movement therein, and springs22 placed between each axle box and the top of the corresponding recess.The pedestals 29-29 otthe central bolster are joined together by the{rame 3l and said trame may he provided with ears for the support ofbrake parts.

The :iframe 31 is provided on each side with a socket 32 having ahemispherical bottom. One of the bosses 25 is introduced in each of thesochets 32 and serves to connect the corregonding pilot and trailerbolsters with the central bolster. The frame 31 is further provided withfour true surtaces 33.

The coordinating bolster 34 is provided with four bearings 35 whichcontact with the rocher bearings 28. The bearings 35 are formed upon thelongitudinal beams 36 -36 of the coordinating bolster 34, said beamsalso extending over the triction reducing elements 37, one of saidelements being inounted between each end of the beams 36-36 and thecorresponding base 26.

In addition to the longitudinal beams 36-36 above noted, the cerdinating bolster 3-1- coniprises a central member 38, the ends ot whichare inserted within openings 39 provided in said beams and bear upon theletter. In orderto permit of vertical rocking' action of the beams 36with respect to the central member 38, the 'hearing surtaces on the endsof said member are curved as shown at 40 in Fig. 4. The openings 39 havesufiicient length that the member 38 may be easily engaged with thebeams 36 and so as to allow of the rocking movement above reterred to,but not enough to permit undue horizontal displacement of said memberrelative to said beam. Transverse movement ot the member 38 relative tothe beams 36 is prevented by a vertical bearin surface 41 provided on.each end of the member 38 which coacts with a similar hearing surface42 on each bean 36. A stop plate 43 is scoured to the underside ot thebeam 36 and said plate is adapted to coact with a nose 44 tormed on themember 38, in order to prevent any turning movement of the beams 36-36.

The centre plate 45 supports the car body 46 in any approved manner andthe coordinating bolster 34 with reference to the car body 46 may Swingangularly about said plate. Any approved form of side bearings such as4?, adapted to coact with wear plates 48 Secured to the underside of thecar body, may be interposed between said body and the coordinatingbolster. F urther, the central member 38 is provided with four gibs 49true on the outer surface thereof, which project downwardly and each hasa sliding bearing upon one of the true surfaces 33 of the treme 31, thusconnecting the coordinating bolster and the central bolster together insuch mann-er that while the tormer can have angular movement in avertical plane and vertical and transverse movements with reference tothelatter, yet the latter is forced to par-take of theangular movementin a horizontal plane of the former.

Each of the bearings 35 of the Coordinating bolster 34 may havelongitudinal movements as well as angular movements within thecorresponding rocker bearings 28;

In order to maintain the horizontal rigidity of the coordinating bolsterand to secure its flexibility in vertical planes I preferably employ thetriangulated trusses 50, as shown in Fig. l. Said trusses are Secured tothe beams 36 in such a manner that the latter can have no relativehorizontal, but are cepable of relative vertical movement. One method ofsecuring the trusses 50 'is shown in Fig. 1, in which the ends of saidtrusses are pivot-ally mounted between ears 51 tormed on the beams 36.The trusses 50 are arranged on either side of the member 38 so that thecoordinating bolster 34 may be reversed in direction without affectingits mode of operation. Moreover, it will be noted that the trusses 50,in addition to serving; as a means of articulating the longitudinalbeams together, resist transverse forces Operating upon said beams.

All ot the parts hereinbefore'referred to are tully illustrated,described and the novel combinations thereot claimed in Patent No.1,568,058 noted above.

lili) central bolster and a' suitable block 53, which serves as anadditional side hearing, is secured in each of said saddles. The wearngsurfaccs of said blocks are ar-anged slightly i below those otthe' sidebearings 47, for a purpose hereinafter explained, and a wear plate 54,attached to the car body, is adapted to coact therewith. i

The action of ny improved truck is as follows:- i

Present truck side bearings are spaced as shown at 47-47 in Fig. 3,safety considerations requiring their being placed between the wheelfianges. This Construction results in a considerable overhang of the carbody beyond the bearngs 47. It 'is obvious, therefore, that as the carbody rocks, due to roadbed irregularities, there will be a markedincrease in the pressure' exertcd on the bearings 47, the loadvaryingfrom light to heavy and frequently causing defiections .in the carfloor. l

The blocks 53 are so positioned relative to the `bearings 47 that theybegin to :function before a condition of overloading exists" on saidbearings. They, therefore, exert a snubbing action on the car bod and,by retarding its oscillation, naterall i reduce the' pressure that wouldotherwise e directed on` the journals; i

The osition of the blocks 53 on thecentral bo ster is of particularadvantage in the type of truck shown in Fig. 1. 'The vertical load fromthe car body is applied to the coordinating bolster 34 upon the centerplate and this load isthen distributed to the beams 36-36, thencethrough the friction rei ducing elements 37 to the bases 26; :from thebases 26,' portionsof the load aredelivered to the pilot and trailerwheels and the remainder is delivered to. the central wheels through theballand socket joints connectingthe pilot and trailer bolsters to thecentral bolster, the variousparts being -so proportioned and locatedthat the loads 'upon the wheels are approximately equal, when the wheelsare upon a level track and the car body is` symmetrical with respect tothe truck.

If the sum of the reactions along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1 be considered,it isobvious that the same will be constant, whether the *weight of thecar body and its contents be consdered alone, or in conjunction with theforces set up by the oscillation of the car body. Therefore, the loadexerted on the wheels of the central bolster can never be grea-ter thannormal,=because the proportion of said reactions carried by said bolsteris delivered thereto midway between wheels. Hence, there is a reserveCapacity in the central axle for taking such overload when'the car bodyrocks, thereby clamping said r as might be due to body oscillation and'the blocks 53 have been placed accordingly It is to be remembered,however, that the blocks 53 contact onlymomentarily with the wear plates54 during the oscillation of the car body and thelatter, therefore, doesnot ciable length of time; Otherwise, the car body might interfere withthe positioning of the central member by the ;coordinating bolster whenthe truck is entering a curve.

As the essential conception in my invention is the devising 'of meansfor retarding body oscillation, I consider that any means which may beutilizecl tor this purpose, to be within the spirit of my ,invention andtherefore do not desire to be limited to the exact location, orcombinations, shown or nal boxes for said'axles, a 'center plate foengagement with said pin, and aplurality of e side bearings dsposedtransverselyoon'each side of said center plate between said boxes andsaid wear plates, said bearings on each side `of said center plate beingadapted to contact successively with said wear plates the oscillation ofsaid body.

2. The combination with a car body having a king pin and a plurality of-wearplates disposed transversely undersaid body and onleach side ofsaidpin, of acar truck' comprising wheels, axles for said wheels,journal boxes for said axles, a center plate for engagement with saidpin, and a plurality of side bearings disposed transversely, on eachsideof. said center plate between said boxes and said wearvplates, thebearing surfaces of said side bearings, on each side of and outwardlyfrom said .center plate,

being successively lower in elevation.

,3. The combination witha car body having a plurality of wear plates.transversely disposed thereunder on eachside of the lon: u

gitudinal axis the'reof, of a six wheeltruck trailer bolsters to controlthe mutual angularity of said journals, and with the pilot and trailer`bolsters `to transmit the" load p stress thereto, a ball and socketioint between each of said pilot and trailer bolsters `having a bolster'or each pair ofjournals, a coordinating bolster engaging with 'thecentral bolster and with eachof the pilot and 70 in any sense ride onsaid block for an apprelil side thereof and said central bolster havinga hearing disposed on the pedestal' thereot above each ot' the centraljournals, said bearings coacting with said wear plates to danp theoscillaton of said body. j

4. The conbination with a car body having a plurality of wear platestransvereely disposed thereunder on each side of the lom gitudinal axisthereoi, 'of a six wheel 'truck having a bolster for each pair ofjournals, a coordinating bolster engaging with the eent-ral bolster andwith each of the pilot and trailer bolsters to control the mutualangularity of said jonrnals, and with the pilot' and trailer bolsters totransinit the load stress thereto, a hall and sectet joint between eachot said piiot and trailer bolsters and said central bolster totransinit.the'load Stress to said central bolster, said coordinatingbolster having: a side hearing on each side thereetfland saidccntralbclster having a hearing disposed on the pedestal thereof above each ofthe central journals, the bearing surface of each central bolsterbearingbeing lower in elevation then caclj.. coordinatinf bolster hearing; i

5. The coinbination with a car body having a plurality of wear platestran? ersely disposed thereunder on each side of the lei gitudinal axisthereof, of a six wheel truck having a bolster for 'each pair ofjournals, a coordinating bolster engaging with the central bolster andwith each ot the pilot and trailer bolsters to control the mutualangularity of said journals, and with the pilot and trailer bolsters tetransnit the load stress thereto, a ball and socket' joint between eachof said pilot and trailer bolsters and said central bolster to transmitthe load stress to said central bolster, said coordinating' bolsterhaving a side bearing on each side thereof and said central bolsterhaving a bearingerdisposed on the pedestal thereof above each of thecentral journals and aligned with said coordinating bolster bearings'for coacting with said wear plates to on opposite sides of the third, aball and\ socket joint conneeting the two outer bolsters with thecentral bolster, means for supporting a car body upon the truckincluding a coordinating bolster engaging the central journal bolsterand resting on the outer bolsters, side bearings for the car body onsaid coordinating bolster, and supplemental side bi-arings on thecentral journal bolster.

8. In a six wheel coordinating truck, the conbination With threeinterconnected and 'elatively novable journal bolsters, two of saidbolsters being adapted for partial support on opposite sides of thethird, means fer supporting a car body upon the truck including a.eo'rdinatinz bolster engaging the central journal bolster and resting onthe outer bolsters, side hearings on said coordinating'bolster forsupporting` the body when the 'latter is unbalanced laterally, andnieans -ter transferring a part oi the thrust ot the unbalanced body tothe central journal bolster at points apart froni the longitudinalcenter line of the truck.

9. In a six wheel truck, the coinbination with three inter-connected andrelatively nevablejournal bolsters, oi? means for supportingr 'acar bodyon the truck including a roordinating bolster having bearings on the two-outer journal bolsters, side bearings tor 'the *car body on saidcoordinating bolster, andsupplemental side bearings on the centraljournal bolster, said side bearings ,on ,a ;li side of the longitudinalaxis of said truck being arranged to contact successively 'ith theunderside of said body.

10. In a six wheel truck, the conbination with three interconnected andrelatively 'IHOVablB journal bolsters, of means for supporting a carbody on the truck including a coordinating bolster having bearings onthe two out-er journal bolsters, side bearings for the car body on saidcoordinating bolster, and supplemental 'side bearings on the centraljournal bolster, said supplenental bearings being lower in elevationthan said first named side bearings. j

11. In a six wheel truck, the conbination with three interconnected andrelatively novable ournal bolsters, of neans 'for supporting a car bodyon the truck including a coordinating bolster having bearings on thetwoouter journal bolsters, side bearings for' the car body on saidcoordinating bolster, and supplenental side bearings on the centraljournal bolster disposed on the pedestals thereot above each of thecentral j ournals.

In testnony whereof, I atiix ny signature.

CARL L. CHARLES.

